Record-file



T. MCDOUGALL AND S. RUSSO.

RECORD FI'LE.

APrL|cA1|oN man mm2, 191s.

Patented May 24,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2` jfl UNITED STATES VMTENT OFFICE.

TAYLOR-MCDOUGALL, OF PASADENA, AND SULLY RUSSO, OF LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA.; SAID MCDOUGALL ASSIGNOR T0 SAID RUSSO.

RECORD-FILE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1) ttellted Ditty 24, 1921.

`applicati@ inea April 2, 191s. serial No. 226,138.

To all who/ml t may concern Be it known that we, TAYLOR MODOUGALL and SULLY Russo, citizens of the Unitedk Object of the linvention is to produce al record iile ofvthis character of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to produce a file for comparatively great strength for the amount of material used in its construction so that rough handling` thereof will not destroy its usefulness. Y

Another object is to provide a record file in which the partitions are formed of wire. Another object is to provide a simple form of supporting members for therecords.' v

Other objects and advantages will appear vFigure 1 is a perspective view of arecord. file constructed in accordance with theprovisions of this invention.

F ig.' 2 is a sectional elevation of the file.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental elevation partly in section on line indicated by ma-ma, F i0. 2, some of thelpa'rtitions being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a planview of one of the levers or record supporting members. p

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a modilied form ofthe invention, the view being analogous to that shown in Fig. 2. n

Fig. 6 is a cross section of a partitionforming wire, a covering therefor also being shown in section.

There are provided end members 1, 2 of any suitable shane, in Fig. 1 said members being triangular and in Fig. 5 the end members being rectangular; From the nature of the view in Fig. 5 oinly one end member can be seen. Connecting the end members together are partition-supporting rods 3, 4, 5. In Fig. 5 there is a fourth vpartition-supporting rod indicated at 6. The rods 3 to l rods so that the end members l, 2 are embraced between t'he ends of the rods and the heads of the screws. The rods 3 to 6, inclusive, may be provided with notches 8 at intervals therealong and said notches are engaged by partitions formed of wires; each partition being formed of a singe piece of wire and comprising a front upright member 9, a downwardly and rearwardly slanting member 10 and a downwardly and forwardly slanting member 11 as in Fig. 2, or, in the case of Fig.l 5, comprising a front vertical member 9, a rear vertical member l2 anda downwardly and forwardly slanting member 13. The member 9 extends from the rod 3 to the rod 4; themember 10 in Fig. 2 extends from the rod 3 to the rod 5; the member 11 in Fig. 2 extendsfrom the rod 4 to a point intermediate the ends of the member 10,; the member 12 in Fig. 5 extends from the rod 5 to the rod 6; and the extends from the rod rod 3 and through one of the'notches 8 in the rod 8, thence downward beneath the rod 4 and through one of the notches 8 thereof and thence aslant upward and rearward where the end is fastened by any suitable means to the member 10. The end may be fastened by solder, not shown, or may be spot welded. Thus the partition in Fig. 2 is in the form of a triangle, excepting that the base member is omitted. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 the wireof each of the partitions passes upward over the rod 6 and through one of the notches thereof, thence downwardly and forwardly beneath the rod 4 and through one ofthe notches thereof, thence upwardly over the rod 3, and is bent at 15 around said rod 3. Thus in Fig. 5 each partition is in the form of the letter N.y

To improve the appearance of the file, showny in Fig. 2, there may be provided .a top strip 16 of channel shape, the anges of the channel being bent downward on opposite sides of the rod 3. The strip 16 covers the slots inthe rod 3 and preferably the frontflange 17 of said strip is bent inward into engagement or lclose, to the members 9 of the partitions. Also the bottom strip 18 may be provided with a flange 19 and said bottom strip may be bent inward into engagement with or close to the wpartition member 9. The end portions of the strips 16, 18 are turned over on the outside of the end members 1, 2 as indicated at 20 and the screws 7 pass through said turned over portions. ln the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 there is provided a top 21,7rear wall and bottom 23 all suitably connected to the end members, the forward margins of the top and bottom forming strips analogous in function to the strips 16, 18.

In Fig. 2 there is provided a rear L- shaped member 24 bent to form` a channel 25 along its upper edge and in said channel is inserted a buffer 26 formed of a strip of suitable material as, for instance, felt or the like adapted to engage the rear edges of the records, not shown. The L-shaped member 24 is provided with turned over portions 2T through which the associated screws 7 pass so as to fasten the L-shaped member to the end members 1, 2.

In Fig. 2 the upper surface of the lower leg` of the L-shaped member 24 is provided l with a buffer 27.

Mounted in the end members 1, 2 at its opposite ends is a shaft 28, said shaft being nearer the front margins of said end members than the rear margins. Pivoted on the shaft 28 is a series of record holding memi tions or fingers at the rear ends of the levers. By this construction the rear end portions of the levers are given a rounded relatively narrow construction so that friction between them and the wire partitions will be minimized, said narrower portions of the levers extending between adjacent members 10 of the partitions and being free from said members. The levers 29 are normally inclined slightly rearward and downward and the lingers 31 rest on the buffer 27. This buffer 27 prevents noisy operation when the levers are released after operation. Fach lever 29 terminates at its forward end with a flat circular disk provided with a medial perforation 32 to receive the clamping prongs 33 of a key button 34 which may be of any suitable construction. The prongs 33 are bent under the levers 29 so as to firmly hold the buttons 34 on the levers. Each lever 29 may be provided with a downwardly pressed rib 35 to strengthen the outer end of the lever. Each lever is provided between the flanges 30 with a downwardly bent portion 36 which is curled under the bottom of the lever to form an openable and closable eye engaging the shaft 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. When the file is being assembled, the levers 29 vmay all be assembled on the shaft 28 before fastening said shaft in place, but it is clear that if any one of the levers should become bent or if it should become desirable to -remove any one of the levers for any reason whatsoever, the lever may be removed from the shaft 28 by first bending open the curled portion 36. The levers 29 described may be readily manufactured'at comparatively low cost since they are stamped from sheet metal with practically no waste of material.

In practice, to use the record file above described, if it be desired to place a record in the file, the record will be presented edgewise between two adjacent partition members 9 and will be allowed to rest on the appropriate lever 29. Then the record will be thrust rearwardly and as soon as its center passes rearward of the shaft 28 the record, owing to the action of gravity thereon, will roll down the inclined lever 29 until it rests against the buffer 26. T0 remove a record from the file, the operator will press down on the 'appropriate button 34, thus tilting the lever 29 forward and downward, whereupon the record will roll-forward and canbe readily grasped by the operator as it emerges from between the partition members 9.

Preferably alternate levers 29 are bent upl ward near their forward ends as indicated at 37 s0 as to produce staggered relation of the buttons 34 in two different planes, when the levers are in the retracted position, so that any particular button can be selected with maximum ease and depressed `without interfering with any of the other levers.

In Fig. 6 we have shown a partition wire 9 having a acket or covering 38 of any soft material to minimize the liability of scratching of the records when they are being introduced in the file or abstracted therefrom. The jacket 38 as shown is in the form of a tube which, if desired, can be manufactured in any suitable manner, and then slipped onto the wire before or after the wire is bent into the partition form.

From the foregoing it is clear that the end members 1, 2 and rods 3, 4, 5, in one instance, and 3, 4, 5, 6 in another instance form a frame and that the partition wiresl are strung on the frame. The slots 8 prevent the wires from slipping along the rods.

We claim: Y

1. In a record le, the combination of end members, rods fastened at their ends to the end members, wires strung from `rod to rod rods, the other ends of said wires being secured to the wires intermediate of two of said rods, and means on the rods to prevent the wires from slipping along the rods.

' 2. In a record file, the combination of end members, upper and lower rods fastened at their ends to the end members, another rod fastened to the end members rearward of the lower rod, wires extending from the rear rod aslant upward and forward over the upper rod, thence downward under the lower rod, thence aslant upward and rearward to the respective wires and fastened thereto, and means on the rods to prevent the wires from slipping along the rods.

3. In a record file, skeleton partitions, means to hold the partitions in spaced relation, and pivotally mounted levers in the spaces between the partitions, each of said levers having upturned flanges at its edges spaced from one another at its forward portion and bent together at its rear portion so that said rear portion willV be free from engagement with the partitions.

4L. In a record file, skeleton partitions having front and rear members, means to hold the partitions in spaced relation, and pivotally mounted levers having their Vforward ends inserted between adjacent front partition members and their rear ends between adjacent rear partition members, the forward portions of the levers being provided with upturned flanges and being substantially as wide as the distance between adjacent front partition members, and the rear record-supporting levers arranged at inter- Y vals between the end members, each lever having a downwardly bent portion curled under the bottom of the lever to form an openable and closable eye engaging the shaft and the front and rear partition members forming guides for the opposite ends of the levers.

' In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 25th day of March Y191s. i

TAvLoR MCDOUGALL. SULLY RUSSO. In presence of GEORGE H. HILEs, L. BELLE WEAVER. 

